Corn-husking machine.



SK GERMAN.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED 050,22, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1 $73,355, Patented July 23, 1918.

S. GERIVIAIII CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22. I9I6.

1 m 355". Patented July 23, 1918.

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S GERMAN.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.22,19I6.

Patented July 23, 1918.

A 6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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S.GERMAN.

CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22. mm.

Patented July 23, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4- S. GERMAN.

CORN HUS-KING MACHINE.-

APPLICATION FILED 0120.22. I916.

Patented July 23, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEEI 5.

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S. GERMAN.

CORN HUSIUNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22. 19m.

Patented July 23, 1918.

6 SHEETSSHEET 6.

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SUJLOIVLOIN GERMAN, 0F I-IALJETHURPE, MARYLAND.

conn-nusxrne MACHINE.

Application filed December 22, 1916. Serial No.

To all whom it may concern."

- Be it known that T, SOLOMON GERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Halethorpe, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn- Husking Machines, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to machines for re moving the husks from cars of corn, and it is an improvement in the machines disclosed in my PatentsNos. 1,176,359 and 1,194,615, dated March 21., 1916, and August 15, 1916, respectively.

The invention has for its object to provide a novel and improved mechanism whereby the husks are expeditiously and thoroughly removed from the ears.

The invention also has for its object to provide a portable machine of the kind stated which can be operated in the field, and which is provided with means whereby it may be leveled up when standing on a hillside.

The objects stated are attained by means of a combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter describedand claimed, and in order that the same may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a rear end View;

Fig. 4L is an elevation of a husk-stripping mechanism, with parts in section;

vFig. 5 is an elevation showing certain gears of the said mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectlon on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4:;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional ing device;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail showing amodified form of stripping mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on the line 101O of Fig. 9, and

. Figs. 11 and 12 show further modifications of the stripper mechanism.

Referring specifically to the drawings,the

detail showing a levelmechanism is mounted on a truck so that Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July as, refs. mazes it may be conveniently hauled from place to place and operated in the field. However, it will be understood that the machine may be built stationary, but it is preferably made portable. The truck has front and hind Wheels 1 and 2, respectively. The front wheels are carried by a frame 1 and they are swiveled to said frame so that the truck may be steered. The hind wheels are carrled by an axle 2 on which is mounted a bearing 3 for a reach 4 connecting said axle with the frame 1 These parts form the running gear of the truck and support a suitable frame work 5 on which the husking mechanism is mounted. This truck frame is pivotally mounted on the reach 4: so that it may be tilted laterally to level the machine when it is standing on a hillside. The front end of the frame is pivoted to the corresponding end of the reach 4, and the rear end of the frame is pivotally connected to the corresponding end of the reach. Tn order that the truck frame may be tilted to level the machine, there is connected to the axle 2 an upstanding stem 6 said stem being pivoted, as shown at 6 to a bracket 6 fixed on said axle. The upper end of this stem is screw-threaded and passes through a nut 7 rotatably supported in a bearing 7 fixed to a member 7 of the truck frame. A bevel gear 8 is fixed to the nut 7 and with said gear meshes a bevel gear 8 on a shaft 9 suitably supported on the truck frame and provided with a hand wheel 9 It will be seen that when the shaft 9 is rotated by operating the hand wheel, the nut 7 is turned through the bevel gears 8 and 8, and as said nut travels on the stem 6, the truck frame is tilted to either side of its axis, the latter being the reach 4, and the tilting mechanism being 011 one side of this axis.

The frame of the truck supports a suitable engine or motor 10 which drives the bushing mechanism and other devices to be presently described, the same being also supported in working position on the truck frame. The stalks from which the ears are to be removed and husked are taken up by a conveyor 11 and deposited on a table 12 where they are grasped by the operator and presented to a rotary cutter in the form of a circular saw 13 to sever the cars from the stalks. The saw is on a shaft 14L which is belted or otherwise operatively connected, as indicated at 14*, to a countershaft 15, which latter,inturn, is operatively connected by a belt 15*, or otherwise, to the shaft of the engine 10. The shaft 11 of the'conveyer 11 is driven from the countershaft 15 by a chain, belt, or other suitable means 11. Associated with the saw 13 is an auxili'ary cutter 13* similar to the one described in my Patent No. 1,191,615, dated August 15, 1916.

After the ears are severed from the stalks, the former pass to the husking mechanism. The stalks and husks will be tied into bundles, a suitable bundling mechanism 16 driven by a chain, belt, or other suitable means 16 'from the shaft 15.

The husking mechanism comprises the following parts:

Below the table 12, adjacent tothe cutter 13, is mounted -a housing 17 into the upper open end of which the ears are thrown to be operated on by the husking devices in the housing. The upper inlet end of the housing contains a hopper 17 which centers theears and guides'them to'the husking mechanism.

Below the hopper -17,the housing 17 contains two vertically spaced pairs of feed rollers 18 and 19, respectively, which are peripherally grooved, the=ears being fed by passing between said grooved portions of the rollers. I

The'two' upper feed rollers 18 are mounted -on shafts 18 and'each of these rollers is pivotally supported so that they are free toswing tow'ard'and from each other. This pivotal support is obtained by supporting the's'hafts-18 en's/winging arms 20 su'pport ed 'bya shaft21. Two arms are provided for each roller, the latter being located between the arms, and the arms being fixed to asleeve 21* mounted loosely on the shaft 21 so that'it may turn freely thereon. The two arms therefore swing together and the roller carried by the arms is made to swing straight and uniformly at'each end without a lateral deviation.

On the shafts 18and 21 are meshing gears 22 a11d'22, respectively, whereby the motion of the latter shaft is"tran'smitted to the former, and the ro1ler1'8 earned thereby is driven. The shaft 21 obtains motion from a vertical shaft'23 located outside the heusing 17 ,a worm gearing '23 between said shafts being provided.

Both rollers 18 are supported and driven in the manner hereinbefore described and the su porting'arms 20; of said rollers are eo'nfie tedb "afcoil'ed spring Qltshdifig to draw the rollers-together. f The rollers therefore yield to allow ears'of "different diameters "to passaherebetween, and they grip the ears feed the "same downward in 'the hbusiii'gli.

The shaft 23 drives both rollers 18, its worm wheel meshing with worm wheels on the respective drive shafts 21 of the rollers.

The shaft 23 obtains motion from the countersh'aft 15 through'a bevel gearing 2 1-.

The lower pair of feed rollers 19 is supported in the same manner as the upper pair 18, a similar drive gearing being also employed.

Between the upper and lower feed rollers 18 and 19, the housing 17 contains a device for stripping the husks from the ears. This device is a rotary brush consisting of a hollow cylinder or ring 25 on the inside of which are-fixed the bristles 25. The brush cylinder is carried on the inside of a ring 26 which is toothed to form a spur gear. The housing 17 carries suitable bearings 27 supporting the gear 26, and in mesh with said gear is a gear 28 on the shaft 23, whereby the brush is driven.

Associated with the stripper brush hereinbefore described is a cutter for slitting the husks to facilitate their removal from the cars. This cutter comprises a series of knives 29 pivoted at one end, as shown at 29, to an annular plate 80 mounted on top of the brush cylinder 25. The free outer ends of the knives project over a suflicicnt distance from the inner periphery of the brush cylinder to come in contact with the outside of the ears about to pass therethrough, and they are held yieldingly pressed outward by springs 31. As the knives are carried by the rotary brush, they revolve with the same, and they are set horizontally to cut transversely of the cars. It will therefore be seen that when the ears are fed forward in the direction of their length past the knives, the 'husks are cut into spiralstrips which are readily removed from the ears by the rotating brush. The upper feed rollers 18 push the ears downward through -thestripping mechanism, and the lower feed rollers 19 pull the ears downward through said mechanism. The husks strippedfrom the ears are removed from the bottom of the housing by an air suction apparatus comprising a fan 32 having its suction pipe 32 connected to the housing. The fan is driven by a belt 33 from the countersha'ft 15.

Figs. 9 and 10 show a modified arrangement of cutters for slittingthe'husks as the ears pass to the rotary brush 25. The knives 34: in this instance are not carried by the brush, but are independently supported by a shelf 35 mounted in the housing 17 said shelf having'a central opening 35 in line with the interior of the brush, and the knives depending from the shelf and being grouped in 'a circle around the opening. The knives are -mounted vertically to swing in a vertical plane transverselyofthe path of movement ofthe cars,

rat/asst 11% and they are pivoted to the shelf as indicated at 36. Springs 36 are also provided for holding the knives yieldingly in cutting contact with the outside of the ears. The lower cutting portions of the knives are somewhat hook-shaped, the hook pointing inward.

Fig. 11 shows a modified form of huskk stripping brush. This stripper consists of a group of rotary brushes 37 which are substituted for the brush 25. The brushes have their axes arranged Vertically and parallel, and they are set to form a vertical space down which the ears are fed. Any suitable drive gearing may be provided for operating the brushes.

Another modified form of stripper brush is shown in Fig. 12. This brush comprises a series of segments 38 pivoted at 38 to a rotatable member 39. The segments are arranged in a circle around a central opening 39 in the member 39 through which the ears pass, and they are held pressed inward by springs 40. I-Iusk-stripping knives as hereinbefore described mayor may not be used as is found expedient, in conjunction with this form of brush.

I claim:

1. In a corn husking machine, a hollow rotary brush, means for feeding the ears lengthwise through the brush, and a series of husk cutting blades carried by the brush at the entrance end thereof and having their cutting edges in the path of the ears.

2. In a corn husking machine, a husk stripping device comprising a rotary 1nemher having an opening through which the ears are adapted to be fed lengthwise, and a series of brushes carried by the member and encircling the entrance end of the open ing, said brushes being pivoted, and means for yieldingly holding the brushes pressed inward into working position.

3. In a corn husking machine, a husk stripping mechanism, and a pair of feed rollers associated with said mechanism, shafts on which the rollers are mounted, a pair of swinging arms carrying each shaft, the rollers being mounted between the respective pairs of arms, sleeves to which the respective pairs of arms are fastened, shafts on which the sleeves are rotatably mounted, means for yieldingly holding the rollers pressed toward each other, a drive gearing between the roller shafts and the second mentioned shafts, and driving means for said second mentioned shafts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SUIJUMON GERMAN,

Witnesses:

E. WALTON BREWINGTON, HOWARD D. ADAMS,

topics of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the flommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. to 

